At Home: No need to discard style when conserving water

Friday

Dec 2, 2016 at 9:40 AM

Ed Del Grande

Q: Dear Ed: I plan on remodeling my bathroom and want to install very elegant plumbing fixtures. Also, I want to conserve water and plan on installing a very efficient toilet. For my bathroom faucets I really want a classic look. Do they make high-efficiency faucets available in classic styles?

— Jane, Iowa

A: In today’s green building market, just because you want to save water doesn’t mean that you have to sacrifice good looks.

Many of today’s high-efficiency toilets, showerheads and faucets include many different styles from which to choose. Styles are available from contemporary to nostalgic, and even though the styles can be very different, the water-saving goals are the same.

FYI, standard faucets usually use 2.2 gallons per minute. If you want to upgrade to a water-saving faucet, look for a model set up from the factory that uses 1.2 gallons per minute. In many cases,you may even find a standard faucet you like, and by simply changing to a high-efficiency aerator, you can save water.

Master contractor/plumber Ed Del Grande is known internationally as the author of the book "Ed Del Grande’s House Call," the host of TV and Internet shows, and a LEED green associate. Visit eddelgrande.com or write eadelg@cs.com. Always consult local contractors and codes.

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